Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Doobs]

Been trying to book my Vegas flights this morning. Nightmare. NIGHT MARE.

Everything is so bloody complicated when we book rail or air travel.

Sometimes, less choice works better.

I can book Virgin Atlantic by three means.....

Money

Miles

Money + Miles.

Availability differs on all three. 

For "money", I can book whatever day & cabin I want, easy peasy.

For the other 2 options, including Miles, not so easy. PE is not available, & a PE Upgrade is only available on the return flight. Economy only it seems.

I gave up after an hour, frustrated & stressed to bits. Guess I'll have to re-gather myself & do it tomorrow.

Quick shout out to Simon Galloway, who helps me with these things, he's been a star, & I've been a pain.

Hotel to book next, I might put Marky in charge of dealing with my hotel headaches. Seems only fair to spread the pain. 

Simon is a legit legend with all the flight stuff, and it gives me a headache.

Will gladly scout about some hotels for you, if you give me your dates, when booked.

I'm guessing somewhere nice with Gill, and then just Starbucks required when you're punting it off?

Vdara has a Starbucks in the lobby, and everyone who is anyone is staying there this year. 

If you want Premium Economy both ways, you can do economy out on miles and then you are invited to bid for an upgrade.  I think the bids start at about £150, but guess you can bid a lot higher (say £300) if you want a better chance.   I think I bid something just over £200 last time and it was enough.  This time I have gone lower, as I figure you are ending up with the poorer choice of PE seats and you can get exit rows for £50 anyway.

The miles + cash offering always seems to put out offers you'd never be interested in. 

[Marky147]

Been trying to book my Vegas flights this morning. Nightmare. NIGHT MARE.

Everything is so bloody complicated when we book rail or air travel.

Sometimes, less choice works better.

I can book Virgin Atlantic by three means.....

Money

Miles

Money + Miles.

Availability differs on all three. 

For "money", I can book whatever day & cabin I want, easy peasy.

For the other 2 options, including Miles, not so easy. PE is not available, & a PE Upgrade is only available on the return flight. Economy only it seems.

I gave up after an hour, frustrated & stressed to bits. Guess I'll have to re-gather myself & do it tomorrow.

Quick shout out to Simon Galloway, who helps me with these things, he's been a star, & I've been a pain.

Hotel to book next, I might put Marky in charge of dealing with my hotel headaches. Seems only fair to spread the pain. 

Simon is a legit legend with all the flight stuff, and it gives me a headache.

Will gladly scout about some hotels for you, if you give me your dates, when booked.

I'm guessing somewhere nice with Gill, and then just Starbucks required when you're punting it off?

Vdara has a Starbucks in the lobby, and everyone who is anyone is staying there this year. 

If you want Premium Economy both ways, you can do economy out on miles and then you are invited to bid for an upgrade.  I think the bids start at about £150, but guess you can bid a lot higher (say £300) if you want a better chance.   I think I bid something just over £200 last time and it was enough.  This time I have gone lower, as I figure you are ending up with the poorer choice of PE seats and you can get exit rows for £50 anyway.

The miles + cash offering always seems to put out offers you'd never be interested in. 

They probably don't allow drink driving, so I'll have to swerve Vdara

I've got about 6 million myVegas points, so will see if I can snag a few free nights at Aria/Bellagio with those.

[Doobs]

Been trying to book my Vegas flights this morning. Nightmare. NIGHT MARE.

Everything is so bloody complicated when we book rail or air travel.

Sometimes, less choice works better.

I can book Virgin Atlantic by three means.....

Money

Miles

Money + Miles.

Availability differs on all three. 

For "money", I can book whatever day & cabin I want, easy peasy.

For the other 2 options, including Miles, not so easy. PE is not available, & a PE Upgrade is only available on the return flight. Economy only it seems.

I gave up after an hour, frustrated & stressed to bits. Guess I'll have to re-gather myself & do it tomorrow.

Quick shout out to Simon Galloway, who helps me with these things, he's been a star, & I've been a pain.

Hotel to book next, I might put Marky in charge of dealing with my hotel headaches. Seems only fair to spread the pain. 

Simon is a legit legend with all the flight stuff, and it gives me a headache.

Will gladly scout about some hotels for you, if you give me your dates, when booked.

I'm guessing somewhere nice with Gill, and then just Starbucks required when you're punting it off?

Vdara has a Starbucks in the lobby, and everyone who is anyone is staying there this year. 

If you want Premium Economy both ways, you can do economy out on miles and then you are invited to bid for an upgrade.  I think the bids start at about £150, but guess you can bid a lot higher (say £300) if you want a better chance.   I think I bid something just over £200 last time and it was enough.  This time I have gone lower, as I figure you are ending up with the poorer choice of PE seats and you can get exit rows for £50 anyway.

The miles + cash offering always seems to put out offers you'd never be interested in. 

Just went and checked.  I bid £180 this time, but the is £253 after tax.  I am not convinced the extra tax was clearly not included when I put the bid in.  So when making bids, assume £73 is going to be added in tax. 

[tikay]

Thanks lads.

I am currently de-steaming from this morning's stress-fest, & will make another attempt at the seemingly simple task of purchasing a ticket in the morning.

[Marky147]

So... Which flight are you on, Tikay?


 

[MANTIS01]

List

[ ] Post an interesting convo piece every day

[tikay]

Easy to tell which Funeral this was seen at yesterday.

Wonderful to be remembered in such a way, don't you think?

[The Camel]

Is there any left for the WSOP stake?

I'll take 2% if available.

[Lucky]

Easy to tell which Funeral this was seen at yesterday.

Wonderful to be remembered in such a way, don't you think?

Nicely done.

[scotty77]

Usual 1%/swap action on Vegas schedules please.  TY

[TightEnd]

don't know if this is of interest?

your neck of the woods

An iconic steam train will pass through Egham, Woking, Guildford, Dorking, Reigate and Redhill on Thursday (April 21) - the Queen's birthday

Click to see full-size image.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/cathedrals-express-spot-celebratory-steam-11207876

[tikay]

Is there any left for the WSOP stake?

I'll take 2% if available.

Ooh, lovely job, we have Mr Camel on board, thanks Keith.

More follows shortly, been an interesting few days, it's kinda tough pushing string uphill.

Do I get coaching from you as part of the deal, Mr H?

I hear young Jake was sort of Guest of Honour at Brighton recently. Got any photos of the proud lad and Dad?

[tikay]

don't know if this is of interest?

your neck of the woods

An iconic steam train will pass through Egham, Woking, Guildford, Dorking, Reigate and Redhill on Thursday (April 21) - the Queen's birthday

Click to see full-size image.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/cathedrals-express-spot-celebratory-steam-11207876

She's beautiful, eh Rich?

Well-named, too, Battle of Britain Class, or "Light Pacific". Can't think of any other Southern Railway Steam Loco I'd go out of my way to see, SR never really "did" quality steam locos, but she's a proper beaut. They used to have the nick "spam cans".

Sadly, tomorrow I'll be on a train myself, up to Leeds, but instead of a Light Pacific, I'll be in one of Wooly Jumpers dreadful plastic things, with electric doors & all that nonsense. Into each life & all that.

[tikay]

http://www.pokerstrategy.com/news/world-of-poker/Change.org-petition-to-remove-WSOP-Main-Event-rake_96478/

^^^ Forgive the spam, but I figured you'd enjoy this example of poker player entitlement.

Blimey, Barry, it's barely believable, is it? Do these people not go to school, or understand how commerce works? I did check to see if it was dated April 1st, but no.

I like that little header you use, really useful......

"2 min reading time"

Handy, that.

Are you a Wednesday fan? They seem to have crept up on the play off spots very quietly. Used to be a huge club, with tremendous gates. Think I'd quite like to see them in the Premier League.

How is life with you & yours these days, & Poker Strategy? 

[The Camel]

Is there any left for the WSOP stake?

I'll take 2% if available.

Ooh, lovely job, we have Mr Camel on board, thanks Keith.

More follows shortly, been an interesting few days, it's kinda tough pushing string uphill.

Do I get coaching from you as part of the deal, Mr H?

I hear young Jake was sort of Guest of Honour at Brighton recently. Got any photos of the proud lad and Dad?

Couldn't work out how to put photos on here, so added some pics on FB

He was the "captain's escort" no less :-)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153412809527041&set=pcb.10153412810837041&type=3